W&M's Courtland Marriner has a career day

— Last week, Jonathan Grimes carried William and Mary. Saturday at Rhode Island, it was Courtland Marriner turning in a career performance.

Marriner, who had scored just four career touchdowns, found the end zone three times and finished with 93 yards on nine carries in the Tribe's 39-14 win over the Rams.

"My line gave me good lanes, and I tried to take advantage of them," said Marriner, a 5-foot-9 junior from Chesapeake. "Sometimes, in the past, I missed some holes. I just tried to be patient, and that is what helped me, being patient."

Marriner's first score came with the Tribe trailing late in the first quarter. He took the handoff from R.J. Archer, started to the left and cutback to the middle of the field and waltzed into the end zone to tie the score at 7-7.

"It feels good to contribute to the team," said Marriner, who said that he finally is healthy after a knee injury last year. "It's not about me; it's a team effort. I was glad to be able to give back, because my team has given so much to me."

Marriner has 325 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the season, tying him with Grimes for the team lead in rushing touchdowns.

"He's a good back," Tribe coach Jimmye Laycock said. "It wasn't surprising that he played that well. We do expect that out of him."

It was the first multi-touchdown effort of Marriner's collegiate career. After starring at Western Branch High, where he scored 36 career touchdowns, he finally found some of that same success against the Rams.

"The feeling is euphoric," said Marriner. "There is no better feeling than getting into the end zone and knowing that you've helped your team to a victory."